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Monday, April 26, 2010

Maybe

Dude, you guys, I just went to a fabu conference (thanks SO MUCH for the laughter. It helped so much!).

One of the conference coordinators made this wicked awesome slide show that made all these goosebumps rise up on my arms, and super-embarrassing tears to prick my eyes. I mean, who cries at a powerpoint presentation? Srsly.

I asked for the whole slide show, because it was just that awesome. I'm waiting to hear back and/or just provide a link to it if I have to.

But this video was in it. I know, I know. I'm not a huge fan of videos either, but this one is only a minute long and it's the best thing ever.

What do you think? I know it's a basketball commercial, but the concept is the same for writing. How many times have we read wicked-amazing books and just thought their authors pumped that out overnight? Or became legends without any hard work? Without any rejection, heartbreak, or tears? Without any despair?

Do we think that every book starts in the bookstore and not with sleepless nights and sore fingers, demoralizing critiques and a whole lotta freaking hard work?

What will it take to become a legendary author? And are you up to the challenge?

Oh, and by the way, there's no shame in tearing up at a PowerPoint. DISNEY movies make me cry. (now you know) Well, pretty much anything can make me tear up. Ask my 14 year old. She's highly embarrassed by this.

You know, Elana, the whole time I was watching that video I had only one thought: when and where did we writers come up with the deadening, heart-stopping idea that this wasn't going to be hard?? I think on a conscious level we recognize the work it takes to succeed, but for some reason when our subconscious gets involved all that logical hits the fan.

I see a surgeon and know if I'd have aspired to that profession it would have taken countless hours to succeed at. Or a teacher in a school and all the life issues they have to deal with for their students, not just reading and writing.

Writers really need to give themselves a break and take each day as it comes, setting a small goal for that day. It really is about the journey. Some of the most successful writers have had amazing journeys...before stardom.

I'll have to wait to watch this for when I'm done subbing. But as far as crying, I find conferences to be very emotional. Susan Cooper, Katherine Patterson, Laurie Halse Anderson, and Cynthia Lord are some of the keynote speakers who have made me cry. But even certain workshops have made me eyes well up.

How did you know I needed this today--specifically, right at this moment in time, when I face yet another long revision on my novel? When I stare down the question of--how could I possibly be a gifted writer if I need to revise THIS MUCH to get achieve a workable book? So, thanks. Because I am up for this. Sometimes I just need a kick in the pants!

Wow - amazing video! I'm so glad the conference was great for you - I went to my 1st big one this weekend and had the best time ever. We had the most inspiring keynote speaker and I walked out of there feeling more than ready for the challenge! :)

Great video (but it's a Nike commercial not a baseball commercial. I know, picky, picky, picky....) Anyway, it's kind of like kids/people who think milk comes in those plastic jugs or that eggs come in those styro cartons. They don't have a clue as to where the stuff really came from, the work it took to get to the grocery store shelf. Books on the shelf at the book store /library? Same deal.

I used to think that a book was written in a day and naturally a publisher stood at your door step and did all the work for you. Yup I was that naive, but eventually I understood the process and now I chuckle when I tell someone I'm writing a book and they say "Oh so you have a publsiher." They have no idea what it takes, you don't just write a page and magically have a publisher but to the everday world they believe it's that simple.

That was awesome!!! I think we forget all the hard work that people put into anything, to get where they are. We only see the finished project or finished person and not the blood, sweat and tears that they put into it.Thanks for sharing that video.

That video gave me chills. I'll have to show it to my husband - he'll love that.

I don't want to be a legendary author, honestly. I just want to be a contributing member of the business. But that, of course, takes all the same grit and perseverance as anything else worth fighting for. And I'm up to it (most days). :)

I really like this! It's so true. we have to keep this all in perspective and remember, in the writing world, there is literally no such thing as an overnight success. There might be a person who gets their first book published and that becomes a hit right away...but the person still had to slave over that book. They didn't write it in a week, get an agent, get a publisher and see on the bookshelves a month later.

That video is awesome! I was a huge basketball fan when I lived in Phoenix and I remember watching Michael Jordan on the court with my mouth hanging open. He DID make it look so easy despite the sweat dripping from his body. Such an amazing player and SUCH an inspiring video. Thanks for posting it!

I did tear up at that. It was probably a mixture of my crazy pregnancy hormones and knowing that I saw something that couldn't have come at a better time. There is constant doubt--constant worrying that it's not good enough...that it's not enough.

This...has to be one of the best blog entries I've read in a long time.

I have alot of obstacles in my way and sometimes I can't fathom getting around them. But somehow, I always do. This time is no different.

One of these days...

I wish I could have met you at the conference. But time and money was not permitting. I'm sure you were great. I'll see you on Farmville! -grins-

I've seen this before, and it is powerful - and true. He did work incredibly hard. Too bad he ruined his image with his awful acceptance tirade, *ahem* I mean, speech at the Hall of Fame. But that's another story. ;-) Regardless of his character, he was an amazing player and he worked hard for it. At the AF conference, Caleb said he thinks it's interesting that with every other artistic endeavor (playing piano, singing, painting, pottery, anything!) people expect to take lessons, to practice and work hard to get good. It's only writing that people think they can sit down and be immediately good at. It does take work, practice, and effort. I have been, and I continue to be, willing to work as hard as I can, as long as it takes, to accomplish my goals and dreams and hopefully be a bestselling author. Great post!

I am so in this for the long haul. People always look at me like I'm crazy when I tell them it takes years to get a book onto the bookshelf at Barnes and Noble. This industry involves buckets of blood, sweat, and tears!

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